Valve assembly for water fountains and the like

ABSTRACT

A valve assembly for controlling the flow of water to the discharge nozzle of water fountains and the like. The valve assembly is characterized by providing a complete change from fully closed to fully open position with a very small displacement of the movable control component of the valve assembly, and such control component is isolated from unbalanced pressure forces and, therefore, can be displaced with substantially the same mechanical force irrespective of the pressure of the supply water delivered to the fountain. Further, delay or lag can be introduced into the valve assembly so that opening, or closing, thereof will not be initiated until the movable component of the assembly has been displaced through some predetermined distance. The valve assembly includes a casing defining a pressurizable chamber having an inlet passage in continuous communication therewith and an outlet port selectively opened and closed by a generally spherical valve in accordance with whether the movable control component of the assembly is in its open or closed position. The valve tends to be carried into closing engagement with the outlet port by the discharge of water therethrough, and it also tends to be sealingly related to such port because of the pressure differential developed across the valve when it is once in engagement with the port.

[451 Aug. 21, 1973 VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR WATER FOUNTAINS AND THE LIKE [75]Inventor: Allen C. Wright, Berkeley, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Haws Drinking Faucet Company, Berkeley, Calif.

[22] Filed: Dec. 7, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 205,688

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 875,873, Nov.12, 1969, Pat. No.

[52] US. Cl 137/609, 251/339, 251/352 [51] Int. Cl. Fl6k 11/14 [58]Field of Search 137/609, 614.17,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,171,437 3/1965 Suechting,Jr. 137/609 3,045,697 7/1962 Seguenot 137/609 3,473,551 10/1969Murauskas 251/288 X 2,968,315 l/l96l Fisher l37/454.2 X 3,173,444 3/1965Bucknell et al.... l37/454.6 3,576,194 4/1971 Christensen l37/6l4.l7 X2,822,818 2/1958 Breznick 137/454.6 3,575,209 4/1971 Kast 137/609Primary Examiner-Samuel Scott Att0rneyJoseph B. Gardner [57] ABSTRACT Avalve assembly for controlling the flow of water to the discharge nozzleof water fountains and the like. The valve assembly is characterized byproviding a complete change from fully closed to fully open positionwith a very small displacement of the movable control component of thevalve assembly, and such control component is isolated from unbalancedpressure forces and, therefore, can be displaced with substantially thesame mechanical force irrespective of the pressure of the supply waterdelivered to the fountain. Further, delay or lag can be introduced intothe valve assembly so that opening, or closing, thereof will not beinitiated until the movable component of the assembly has been displacedthrough some predetermined distance. The valve assembly includes acasing defining a pressurizable chamber having an inlet passage incontinuous communication therewith and an outlet port selectively openedand closed by a generally spherical valve in accordance with whether themovable control component of the assembly is in its open or closedposition. The valve tends to be carried into closing engagement with theoutlet port by the discharge of water therethrough, and it also tends tobe sealingly related to such port because of the pressure differentialdeveloped across the valve when it is once in engagement with the port.

10 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures 7i 7! 7a 7/ Z; 49 7 "2 74 75 Dr l a I 495o WW T 5i A 47 ii .i/ 6/ 45 M 53' 6'0 7.9 5/ I a j 63 1 2 13 I I g v V4a I r260 59 I 1 1 PAIENInAuc21 mm 3753144 sum 1 or 3 PATENIED M1821I975 SHEET 2 OF 3 PATENIEDAUGZI i973 SHEEI 3 [1F 3 VALVE ASSEMBLY FORWATER FOUNTAINS AND THE LIKE RELATED APPLICATION Still another object isthat of providing an improved valve assembly of the type described thatis completely opened by a very small or limited displacement of themovable control component thereof. Yet another ob- This application is adivision of my copending patent ject is to provide a valve assembly inwhich a delay or application Ser. No. 875,873, filed Nov. 12, l969, nowUS. Pat. No. 3,709,254, Jan. 9, 1973.

This invention relates to a valve assembly for controlling liquid flowand, more particularly, to a valve assembly especially useful incontrolling the flow of water to the discharge nozzle of water fountainsand the like as, for example, eyewash fountains and drinking fountains.

In many environments, it would be desirable to have a valve assemblythat could be changed from the completely closed to the completely openposition thereof by a very small displacement of its movable controlelement. In the same or in other environments it would be desirable incertain instances to introduce a time delay or lag between the instantat which the valve assembly tends to initiate the flow of liquidtherethrough and the instant at which the movable component of the valveassembly begins to be initially displaced toward the open positionthereof. These two features may or may not be combined in any particularvalve assembly, but when combined the slight displacement of the movablecomponent required to fully open the valve assembly is measured from theexpiration of the time delay. An eyewash fountain of the type used inindustry, in various other commercial environments, and in laboratoriesto provide personnel with a ready means to flush contaminants, foreignparticles and other irritants from their eyes is an example of aparticular use for valve assemblies embodying the present invention.

Control valves for water fountains and the like are also often difficultto operate because the amount of force required to displace the movablecomponent of the valve assembly from its normally closed position intothe open position thereof depends upon the pressure of the water beingsupplied to the fountain. Supply pressure varies considerably fromcommunity to community and, for example, in some areas the supply linepressure may be of the order of psig while in other locations it may beof the order of I00 psig. Accordingly, if the movable component of thevalve assembly must operate against the supply line pressure, themagnitude of the force necessary to open the valve will be significantlygreater in locales where the supply line pressure is higher than inthose communities wherein the supply line pressure is quite low. Also,in any one locality the supply line pressure may vary considerablythroughout the day depending upon the overall demand being made upon thewater system at any particular time.

An object, among others, of the present invention is to provide animproved valve assembly of the type used to control the flow of liquidsand especially the flow of water to water fountains and the like.Another object of the invention is in the provision of an improved valveassembly having a control element selectively movable between open andclosed positions, and which control element is substantially isolatedfrom the pressure force of the liquid being controlled by the valveassembly so that the force required to move the control element fromclosed to open position is essentially independent of the magnitude ofthe pressure of the liquid being delivered to the valve assembly.

lag can be provided between the time in which displacement of themovable control element of the assembly is initiated and the time atwhich the assembly commences to be opened by such displacement of thecontrol component (such delay or lag can be introduced in the reversesense or upon displacement of the control component of the valveassembly from the fully open toward the closed position thereof).

A further object is in the provision of an improved valve assembly ofthe type described that utilizes the flow characteristic of the liquidmoving through the open valve assembly for seating the valve componentthereof in its closed position, and that then utilizes the continuousdelivery of liquid to the valve chamber of the assembly for maintainingthe valve component thereof in its closed position. Yet a further objectis that of providing a valve assembly as explained that utilizes thepressure of the liquid being supplied thereto to sealingly relate themovable control element thereof to the stationary components of theassembly, thereby automatically compensating for any wear to which thevalve assembly is subjected.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention, especially asconcerns particular features and characteristics, thereof, will becomeapparent as the specification develops.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a broken longitudinal sectional view of an eyewash fountainhaving a valve assembly embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the valveassembly;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is a broken transverse sectional view taken along the line 4-4 ofFIG. 2 showing the valve assembly in its closed position;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view similar to that of FIG. 4 butshowing the valve assembly in the open position thereof;

FIG. 6 is an axial sectional view of a modified valve assembly embodyingthe invention showing the assembly in the closed position thereof;

FIG. 7 is an axial sectional view similar to that of FIG. 6 but showingthe valve assembly in its open position;

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG.6;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a still further modifiedvalve assembly;

FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 10-10 ofFIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 11-11 ofFIG. 9 showing the valve assembly in its closed position; and

FIG. 12 is a transverse sectional view similar to that of FIG. 1 l butillustrating the valve assembly in its open position.

As indicated hereinbefore, valve assemblies embodying the presentinvention are useful in a considerable number of environments and offerthe advantages of having the movable control component thereof isolatedfrom unbalanced pressure forces so that such control component isdisplaceable between the open and closed positions thereof withsubstantially the same manual force irrespective of the pressure of thewater supply delivered thereto, and of having substantially any desiredrelationship between the magnitude of the displacement of the controlcomponent and displacement of the valve element as a consequencethereof. Combined with this latter feature, or independent thereof, isthe characteristic of enabling the valve assembly to be completelyopened with a very small displacement of the control component. Atypifying environment for the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 inwhich the valve assembly is shown in association with an eyewashfountain of the type disclosed, for example, in my copending patentapplication Ser. No. 808,843, filed Mar. 20, l969 and entitled SPRAYNOZZLE FOR AN EYEWASl-I FOUNTAIN.

The eyewash fountain illustrated includes a bowl of any conventionalform which along the bottom wall thereof will be provided with adischarge port or outlet, not shown, adapted to be connected to waste.Centrally the bottom wall of the bowl 15 is equipped with a valveassembly denoted in its entirety with the numeral 16, and such valveassembly controls the discharge of water to nozzles or heads 17 and 18through which a soft featherlike flow of water is adapted to be directedinto the eyes of a workman to flood the same and wash contaminants,foreign particles, and other irritants therefrom.

The valve assembly 16 includes a valve casing 19, control mechanismincluding a control component 20 and one or more valve elements 21(there being two such elements in the valve assembly being consideredand the suffixes a and b" are used to differentiate therebetween), andactuating mechanism which in the form shown includes the nozzles 18a and18b and upwardly and inwardly converging end portions 22a and 22b of thecontrol component 20. The valve casing 19 is ordinarily supported alongthe bottom wall of the bowl 15 so as to be rigidly related thereto, andin the valve assembly shown, the lower end portion of the casing 19 isthreaded externally as shown at 23 and extends through an openingprovided therefor in the bottom wall of the bowl. The assembly isfixedly secured to the bowl by means of a nut 24 received upon thethreads 23 of the casing and tightened against the underside of the bowlthrough a washer 25. The casing 19 is provided with an annular shoulder26 that seats upon the upper surface of the bottom wall of the bowl andis tightened downwardly thereagainst by the nut 24.

The threaded lower end portion 23 of the valve casing 19 is providedwith a supply passage 28 therethrough adapted to be furnished withliquid under pressure via a supply conduit 29 that communicates with asource of such liquid as, for example, a water supply line. The passage28 discharges into a supply chamber 30 that opens into a largepressurizable chamber 31 defined by the valve casing 19. As respectssuch flow connection of the chambers 30 and 31, the latter is of generalsymmetrical configuration, as shown best in FIGS. 4 and 5, and itextends axially relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongatedcontrol component 20. However, adjacent each longitudinal end thereofthe chamber 31 enlarges slightly and has a somewhat eightshaped form soas to provide two valve chambers or sections 32a and 32b respectivelyassociated with and having the valves 21a and 21b located therein. Thesupply chamber 30 converges upwardly and inwardly along central walls33a and 33b which are arcuate and along their inner surfaces defineclosure wall portions of the valve chambers or sections 32a and 32b. Thewalls 33 are open at the upper ends thereof to form inlets 34a and 34bthrough which liquid within the supply chamber 30 spills directly intothe sections 32.

The control component 20 is an elongated longitudinally extending flowconduit having a passage 35 extending therethrough that at its oppositeends communicates with the nozzles 18a and 18b so as to supply liquidthereto. The control component 20 extends longitudinally through thepressurizable chamber 31 and is angularly displaceable with respectthereto but is confined against longitudinal displacements by snap rings36a and 36b respectively seating within circumferential channelsprovided therefor in the control component 20. Leakage of fluid alongthe control component 20 is prevented by 0-ring seals 38a and 38b thatmay be located as shown in FIG. 2.

The pressurizable chamber 31 is also provided with outlet ports 39a and3% respectively associated and communicating with the chamber sections320 and 32b. In the valve assembly 16 shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, suchoutlet ports 39 are formed in the control component 20 and are thereforemovable with such control component between the closed position thereofshown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, and its open position illustrated in FIG. 5.In such closed position of the control component 20 the valves 21a and21b sealingly engage the ports 39a and 39b so as to close the same andthereby prevent egress of liquid therethrough from the pressurizablechamber 31 into the passage 35 of the control component.

It will be observed in FIGS. 2 and 4 that the valve chambers or chambersections 32 are somewhat larger than the valves 21 so that the valvestend to float freely within the chamber sections and are movabletherewithin as is evident by comparing FIGS. 4 and 5. When the valves21are in sealing engagement with the ports 39, they tend to be fixedlymaintained in such position by the pressure differential representedbetween the low value essentially atmospheric pressure within thepassage 35 and ports 39aand 39b and the much highervalue pressure withinthe chamber 31 which has a value substantially equal to the supplypressure of the liquid being delivered to the supply passage 28 via thesupply conduit 29. Irrespective of its particular value, such supplyline pressure will be considerably greater than atmospheric pressureand, by way of example, in ordinary cases may range between 20 and psigdepending upon the particular community in which the valve assembly isbeing used. Thus, the valves 21 tend to remain seated in closingrelation with the ports 39 as the control component 20 is displacedangularly between the closed position shown in the FIGS. 3 and 4 and theopen position shown in FIG. 5 until some obstruction dislodges orunseats the valves from the outlet ports 39.

However, when once unseated from the ports 39, the valves 21 tend toseat thereagainst automatically because of the directional movement ofthe liquid through the pressurizable chamber 31 toward the dischargedports 39. Such movement of the liquid carries the valves therewithunless some obstruction prevents the same, as shown in FIG. 5. In thisrespect, the permissible angular displacement of the control component20 approximates 20, as is best seen in FIG. 3, being defined by thespaced apart stops or abutments 40 and 41 formed by the casing 19adjacent the respective transverse extremities of the supply chamber 30.Such abutments 40 and 41 are adapted to be engaged by a stop pin 42carried by the control component 20 and selectively engageable with theabutments which respectively define the closed and open positions of thevalve assembly.

The angular displacement afforded for each of the valves 21 is less than90, and in comparing FIGS. 4 and 5 it will be seen that the displacementof the valves is of the order of 20. Such limitation on the angulardisplacement of the valves 21 is established by the transverse end walls43 of the valve chambers 32. It might be noted that the controlcomponent 20 is angularly displaceable in a counterclockwise directionas viewed in FIG. 3 from its closed into its open position, and suchmovement is effected as viewed in FIG. 1 by moving the nozzles 18forwardly. Thus, the eyewash fountain and bowl thereof may be placedalong a vertical wall since no water will discharge from the nozzles 18until they have been displaced forwardly by some predetermined angulardistance which in the specific structure being considered is adisplacement somewhat in excess of about 20.

Should it be desirable in certain installations to have the controlelement 20 move in the opposite direction in order to open the valveassembly, it is readily accomplished by placing the stop pin 42 inengagement with the abutment 41 when the valve is closed and suchplacement of the stop pin can be effected by forming a recess in thecontrol element 20 in substantial alignment with the abutment 41 andinto which the stop pin can be inserted or by inverting the controlcomponent 20 end for end so that the discharge nozzle 18b would occupythe position of the nozzle 18a as illustrated in FIG. 1. In either case,the valves 21 sould be displaced or unseated upon movement of thecontrol component 20 by abutment with the transverse end walls 44 of thevalve chambers 32. The surfaces of the control element 20 (which issubstantially cylindrical) about the ports 39 along the edges thereofadapted to be sealingly engaged by the valves 21 are flatened, as shownbest in FIG. 2, so that the bottom edge of each port 39 defines a planeof circularconfiguration adapted to be sealingly engaged by the valves21.

In use of the valve assembly 16 it is arranged with a bowl 15 ashereinbefore described and connected with a supply line 29 so that whenthe valve assembly is opened, liquid will be discharged through thenozzles 18. Ordinarily, .the valve assembly 16 is closed in which casethe stop pin 42 is in engagement with the abutment 40, and for aneyewash fountain the nozzles 18 at this time may have a generallyvertical orientation as shown in FIG. 1. Water is continuously suppliedto the pressurizable chamber 31 whereupon the valves 21 are sealinglyseated against the respectively associated ports 39 so that no water isdelivered therethrough to the passage 35 of the control element 20. Whena workman has need to use the eyewash fountain to bath his eyes, hesimply grasps one or both of the nozzles 18 or upwardly turned endportions 22 of the control element and pulls the nozzles forwardlywhereupon the water commences to discharge from the nozzles in the usualmanner.

As explained hereinbefore such angular displacement in a forwarddirection of the nozzles 18 causes the valves 21 to be unseated from theoutlet ports 39 whereupon the water in the pressurizable chamber 31flows freely through the outlet ports 39 and into the passage 35 fordischarge from the nozzles 18. Discharge through the nozzles 18 isterminated simply by displacing the nozzles in the opposite angulardirection, and as soon as the outlet ports 39 come into approximatealignment with the chambers 32, the valves 21 are carried by the flow ormovement of water toward the outlet ports and seat thereagainst to closethe same. It should be noted that such closing of the ports occursirrespective of the location of the valves 21 within the chambers 32when the ports 39 are moved into alignment with the chambers because itis the water movement that carries the valves into seating engagementwith the ports. Therefore, it is not essential that the valves 21 remainin engagement with the walls 43, and as respects the closing functionthe valves can actually be in engagement with the walls 44 at the timethe control element is returned to its closed position and the valveswill nevertheless be carried into seating engagement with the ports 39.

Any desired lag may be introduced into the assembly to provide asuitable delay between displacement of the control element 20 and pointalong such displacement at which the valves 21 unseat. As statedheretofore, the delay in the specific structure being considered is ofthe order of 20, but should a greater delay be desired the chambers 32are simply elongated so as to move the abutment wall 43 of each chambera greater angular distance in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed inFIGS. 3-5) from thevertical center of the assembly. On the other handshould less delay or substantially no delay be desired, the abutmentwalls 43 of the valve chambers would simply be moved in an oppositedirection or in a clockwise direction as viewed in these figures so thatthe valve 21 would be unseated almost immediately upon any angulardisplacement of the control component 20.

It should be also be noted that once the period of delay is passed, thevalve assembly is 7 completely opened by very little angulardisplacement of the control component 20, and such angular displacementin the form shown is simply the distance equivalent to the width of theport 39 or about 25 in the structure shown. Thus, the remaining angulardisplacement afforded for the control component 20 in excess of thedelay displacement of about 20 and the opening displacement of about 20(such remaining displacement being substantially equal to 55 i.e., minus20 minus'20) simply permits a workman to adjust the angular position ofthe nozzles 18 to best suit his convenience.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, the valveassembly 16 is conditioned either to deliver water to the nozzles 18 orto prevent such delivery thereto by angular displacement of the controlcomponent 20 between open and closed positions. Additionally, aplurality of valves are included in the assembly, and it also requiresmanual displacement of the control component 20 both to open the valveassembly and to close the same. It might also be noted that the outletports 39 are provided by the control component so that such ports movetherewith.

The modified embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 6 through8 departs from the valve assembly characteristics described in that thecontrol component is axially displaceable rather than being angularlydisplaceable, it is resiliently biased toward the closed positionthereof so that manual effort is required only to open the assembly,only one valve component is provided by the assembly, and the outletport is formed in the valve casing and is therefore stationary asrespects .axial displacements of the control component. However, thevalve element that closes such outlet port is carried by the controlmember and is consequently movable therewith between the outlet-coveringclosed position and outlet-uncovering open position.

The modified valve assembly shown in FIGS. 6 through 8 is denoted in itsentirety with the numeral 45 and it includes a valve casing 46, controlmechanism including a piston or control component 47, a valve element48, and push button or actuating mechanism 49. The valve casing 46 isordinarily supported upon a drinking fountain or the like so as to berigidly related thereto, and the control mechanism comprising thecontrol component 47 is selectively movable relative to the casingbetween the upper closed position shown in FIG. 6 and the lower openposition illustrated in FIG. 7 upon suitable manual manipulation of thepush button mechanism 49. Any conventional means may be employed tofixedly secure the valve assembly 45 to such fountain, and as shown inthe drawings a typical mounting may include an opening in a wall 50 ofsuch fountain and through which the threaded upper end portion 51 of thecasing 46 projects, and which wall 50 is abutted along the upper sidethereof by the push button mechanism 49 and along its underside by a nut52.

The casing 46 is equipped with an axially extending cylinder 53 defininga pressurizable chamber within which the control component 47 is axiallyreciprocable. The casing is also provided with an inlet passage 54communicating with the chamber 53 and with an outlet port 55 alsocommunicating therewith. The passage 54 and port 55 are angularly spacedby approximately 180 and are located at about the same axial positionalong the chamber 53. The passage 54 and port 55 respectivelycommunicate with axially extending bores or passageways 56 and 58 whichmay be enlarged and threaded at their outer extremities as shown at 59and 60 so as to enable outlet and inlet conduits (not shown) to berespectively secured thereto. A closure plug 61 seals the work openingin the casing 46 used to form the passage 54 and port 55 therein.

The piston or control component 47 is biased upwardly into the closedposition thereof shown in FIG. 6 by a helical compression spring 62 thatat its upper end seats within a recess 63 provided therefor in the undersurface of the control component 47 and at its lower end seats within anaxially extending passage 64 formed within the casing 46. The lower endportion of the cylinder or chamber 53 below the control component 47opens to atmosphere through a vent passage 65.

Upward displacement of the control component 47 under the biasing forceof the spring 62 is limited by a transversely disposed pin 66 thatextends through a transverse bore or passage 68 provided therefor in thecasing 46 adjacent the upper end thereof, and which pin extends alsothrough an axially elongated recess 69 formed within the piston orcontrol component 47 in the upper end portion thereof. The pin 66 isconfined within the bore 68 against axial displacements with respectthereto so that engagement of the bottom closure wall of the recess 69with the pin 66 defines the maximum permissible upward displacement ofthe control component 47.

The push button mechanism 49 as respects the present invention may takeany convenient form, and the typical mechanism shown includes a mountingmember 70 of generally cylindrical configuration that is internallythreaded so as to receive and engage the external threads provided bythe upper end portion 51 of the casing 46. The mounting member 70 has alarge central opening 71 therethrough that telescopically receives acentral depending boss 72 provided by a push button 73 which is also ofcylindrical configuration and has a depending skirt 74 thattelescopically receives the member 70 therewithin. The boss 72 has alarge central recess 75 receiving the upper end portion 76 of thecontrol component 47 therein, and a snap ring 78 seated within anannular channel provided therefor in the boss 72 underlies the top wallof the mounting member 70 so as to prevent separation of the push button73 from the mounting member. Various arrangements may be used to unitethe push button mechanism 49 with the valve casing 46 other than thearrangement illustrated such as the tamper proof arrangement disclosedin my copending patent application Ser. No. 780,839, filed Dec. 3, 1968,and entitled WATER BUBBLER ASSEMBLY.

The control component 47 is provided intermediate the ends thereof andalong one side with a valve chamber 79 that is generally cylindrical asis evident by comparing FIGS. 6 and 8, and the chamber seats the valveelement 48 therein. At its inner end, the valve chamber 79 is connectedby a passageway 80 with the pressurizable chamber 53 so as to be incontinuous communication therewith. It will be noted that the valvechamber 79 and passageway 80 are transversely oriented and extendgenerally between the passage 54 and outlet port 55. In this respect, itwill be appreciated that the pin 66 extending through the recess 69maintains the control component 47 in the particular orientationillustrated in the drawings so that the valve chamber 79 is insubstantial alignment with the discharge or outlet port 55. Thus, thecontrol component 47 is constrained against angular displacements-but isfree to reciprocate axially within the pressurizable chamber 53.

The control component 47 is provided at spaced apart locations withinwardly facing cup-type seals 81 and 82 that are urged radiallyoutwardly into slidable sealing engagement with the circumjacent wallsof the pressurizable chamber 53 by the fluid pressure active therein sothat there is substantially no leakage of liquid along the controlcomponent. Thus, the pressure of the liquid being supplied to the valveassembly 45 is utilized in preventing leakage in and about the controlcomponent 47 since the pressurizable chamber 53 is continuously in opencommunication with the inlet passage 54, wherefore a pressure forcecontinuously operates against the cup-type seals 81 and 82 tending tourge them radially outwardly and into tight sealing engagement with thecircumjacent surface of the chamber 53. Accordingly, the valve assemblyis able automatically to accommodate the requirement for increasedsealing as supply pressures increase and similarly to accommodate anywear that occurs along the slidably related surfaces of the seals 81 and82 and walls of the chamber 53 engaged thereby.

The valve 48 tends to sealingly engage the outlet port 55 to prevent theegress of liquid therethrough whenever the control component 47 is inthe closed position illustrated in FIG. 6 because of the pressuredifferential across the valve 48 as explained hereinbefore withreference to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1through 5. Also, the valve 48 tends to seek out and close the port 55whenever the control component 47 is returned to its closed positionbecause of the outward flow or movement through the port 55, all asexplained hereinbefore. However, the control component 47 substantiallypositions the valve 48 in alignment with the outlet port 55 whenever thecontrol component is in its closed position because of the maintenanceof the angular orientation of the control component and dimensionalrelationship of the valve chamber 79 to the valve 48.

The valve assembly 45 is used in the conventional manner by connectingthe threaded enlargement 59 to a supply conduit and the threadedenlargement 60 to a nozzle or other discharge device of a water fountainor the like. Ordinarily, the valve assembly is closed because of thepositioning of the control component 47 thereof by the helical spring 62and because of the closure function of the valve 48 with the outlet port55 as explained. To open the valve and permit the discharge of waterthrough the outlet port 55, passageway 58, and any conduit connectedtherewith, the push button mechanism 49 is displaced downwardly tounseat the valve 48 from the port 55. Release of the mechanism 49permits the spring 62 to return the valve assembly to its closedposition. It will be evident that very slight axial displacement of thecontrol component 47 completely opens the outlet port 55, and because ofthe structural relationship shown, such opening occurs almostcoincidently with initial downward displacement of the controlcomponent. However, any desired delay can be introduced into theassembly as, for example, by

increasing the axial dimension of the valve chamber 79 in an upwarddirection so that the valve 48 will not be unseated until the controlcomponent 47 has been displaced downwardly through some predetermineddistance.

The further modified embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 9through 12 is quite analogous to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through5 in the sense that angular displacement of a control component causesthe valve to be moved between open and closed positions and because aplurality of valves are included in a single assembly. Also, manualmanipulation is required to open the valve assembly and also to returnit to its closed position, but the valves are displaced from theirrespectively associated outlet ports by such movement of the controlcomponent so that in this respect the assembly is similar to that ofFIGS. 6 through 8 in which displacement of the control component 47carries the valve element 48 therewith.

It might be observed that the use of a plurality of valves in any oneassembly is a space saver in that an assembly equipped therewithordinarily will accommodate a much larger flow of liquid with the samesize valve elements and limited displacement of the control componentrelated thereto. Accordingly, in both of the embodiments shown in FIGS.1 through 5 and in FIGS. 9 through 12, one valve and outlet port can beused 10 wherever this is desired. Similarly, in the embodiment shown inFIGS. 6 through 8 a plurality of valves could be associated with controlcomponent 47 and with a plurality of outlet ports in the event that agreater flow of liquid is required.

The modified valve assembly of FIGS. 9 through 12 is designated in itsentirety with the numeral and it includes a valve casing 86 comprisingan upper outlet component 88 and a lower inlet component 89. The casingcomponents 88 and 89 are separable one from the other and areinterconnected and maintained in the position shown in FIG. 9 by a band90 that surrounds the same in circumjacent relation and seats within achannel 91 defined by the two components when axially connected as shownin the drawings. The band 90 may be secured by any suitable means as,for example, by having the adjacent ends thereof butt welded (notshown). In this instance, the components 88 and 89 could be pressed intothe endless band 90 so as to be frictionally constrained thereby andsealingly related thereto.

The casing components 88 and 89 define a pressurizable chamber 92therebetween that is closed circumfrentially by the band 90.Communicating with the chamber 92 is an inlet passage 93 in the form ofan annular supply chamber defined within the lower inlet casingcomponent 89. The inlet passage or supply chamber 93 is adapted to beconnected to a supply of liquid by a fitting or short inlet conduit 94,and as in the embodiments of the invention hereinbefore described, thepressurizable chamber 92 is continuously supplied with liquid throughthe inlet 94 and annular chamber or supply passage 93.

A plurality of outlet ports 95 communicate with the pressurizablechamber 92 so as to enable liquid to be discharged therefrom, and in theparticular valve assembly being considered there are three such portsrespectively denoted with the numerals 95a and 95b and 950. Each of theports 95 opens into an annular discharge chamber 96 defined by the upperdischarge component 88 of the valve casing, and the chamber 96communicates with a discharge conduit or fitting 98 adapted to beconnected with the discharge noale of a water fountain or otherutilization mechanism.

Associated with the valve casing 86 and forming a part of the valveassembly 85 is control mechanism that includes a control component 99mounted within the pressurizable chamber 92 and angularly displaceablewith respect thereto. The control component is supported within thechamber 92 for such angular displacement by a stem 100 extending axiallythrough the casing 86 and through the control component 99. The stem 100is attached to the control component 99 so as to prevent relativeangular displacements therebetween by a pin 101. The stem 100 projectsbeyond the upper casing component 88 and is equipped thereat with a knob102 pinned or otherwise secured to the stem so as to enable manualrotation of the knob 102 to angularly displace the stern 100 and controlcomponent 99 attached thereto. The stem 100 may be sealingly related tothe casing components 88 and 89 by O-ring seals 103 and 104.

The control component 99 has three recesses or chambers formed thereinwhich are equally spaced in an angular sense and are referenced to theoutlet ports 95 so as to be aligned therewith when the valve assembly isin the closed position thereof shown in FIG. 11.

For identification, such valve chambers or recesses are respectivelydenoted with the numerals 105a, 105b, and 1050. Respectively seatedwithin the recesses 105 are a plurality of valve elements respectivelydenoted with the numerals 106a, 106b, and 1060. It will be apparent bycomparing FIGS. 11 and 12 that when the control component 99 isdisplaced angularly in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in thesetwo figures, the valves 106 are displaced from seating engagement withthe respectively associated outlet ports 95 so that the valve assemblyis then open and liquid is permitted to discharge through the outletports, collection chamber 96, and outlet fitting 98. The extent of thepermissible angular displacement of the control component 99 isdetermined by cooperative engagement of a stop pin 108 carried by thecontrol component 99 (and extending upwardly therefrom as shown in FIG.9) and an angular slot 109 formed within the upper casing component 88and within which the stop pin 108 is slidably displaceable.

Use of the valve assembly 85 is the same essentially as use of the valveassemblies hereinbefore described, and in this respect the inlet 34 isconnected to a suitable source of liquid and the outlet fitting 98 isconnected to the discharge nozzle of the fountain or other utilizationdevice. Ordinarily the knob 102, stem 100, and control component 99 arein the closed orientation illustrated in FIG. 1 1, and when it isdesired to open the valve the control knob 102 is simply displacedangularly in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 11 to unseatthe valves 106 from the outlet ports 95 respectively associatedtherewith whereupon such ports are in open communication with thepressurizable chamber 92. Although the control component 99 tends toalign the valves 106 with the respectively associated ports 95 when thecontrol component is in its closed position, the valves 106 are movedinto seating engagement with the discharge or outlet ports because ofthe movement of liquid therethrough and to sealingly close such portsbecause of the pressure differential across each valve, all ashereinbefore explained.

Again, the response of the valve is very rapid so that the assembly canbe moved into its completely open position by a very small angulardisplacement of the control knob 102. However, any desired delay may beintroduced into the assembly before such opening of the ports 95 occursby increasing the radial length of each valve chamber or recess 105.

The materials from which the valve assembly is constructed may takevarious forms and in the usual instance the valve casings will be madefrom a noncorrosive material such as brass or bronze. The valve elementsare relatively lightweight and may be formed of various materials suchas natural or synthetic rubber or rubber compositions and, as a specificexample, neoprene may be used. It will be apparent that a ballshaped orgenerally spherical configuration for the valve elements is advantageousbecause it eliminates the need to align or position the valve element ina particular orientation to effect proper closing thereof with theoutlet port. However, other configurations might be provided includingone having flat sides provided that means be incorporated in the valveassembly to maintain proper orientation of the valve element for propersealing engagement thereof with the outlet port.

The control component of the assembly usually will be metal in the formthereof shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, and it may be entirely or partly ofmetal or of plastic in the form thereof shown in FIGS. 9 through 12. Inthat a slidable sealing relationship is required between the controlelement 47 and the circumjacent walls of the cylinder defining thepressurized chamber 53 in the form of the assembly illustrated in FIGS.6 through 8, the control component is advantageously formed of asynthetic plastic material such as nylon although a selflubricatingplastic such as teflon may also be used.

Concerning various uses for the valve assembly, it has been indicatedhereinbefore that it can have application in a wide variety ofenvironments and it may be observed that the assembly is readilyemployed as a check valve having means located exteriorly of the valvecasing for unseating the valve element to permit flow in the checked orcontrolled direction (i.e., outwardly from the pressurizable chamberthrough the outlet ports associated therewith) whenever this is desired.Reverse flow through the outlet port and into the pressurizable chamberis automatically accommodated by the valve element which will beunseated by any such reverse flow through the outlet port.

While in the foregoing specification embodiments of the invention havebeen described in considerable detail for purposes of making a completedisclosure of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that numerous changes may be made in such details without departingfrom the spirit and its principles of the invention. What is claimed is:

1. A valve assembly for a water fountain or the like, comprising a valvecasing defining a pressurizable chamber having an inlet passagecommunicating therewith to supply liquid under pressure thereto and anout let port communicating therewith to discharge liquid therefrom, acontrol component supported by said casing within said chamber fordisplacements between open and closed positions generally traversingsaid outlet port, and a valve element carried by said control componentwithin said chamber for displacements relative to said outlet port andbeing respectively operative in the open and closed positions of saidcontrol component to permit and to prevent discharge of liquid from saidchamber, said valve element in the closed position of said controlcomponent being movable in the direction of liquid flow through saidoutlet port into sealing engagement therewith as a consequence of theoutward flow of liquid therethrough and thereafter being maintained insealing engagement with said outlet port by the pressure differentialthen defined across said valve element, displacement of said controlcomponent toward the open position thereof being operative to displacesaid valve element transversely relative to such flow direction andthereby effect relative movement of said valve element and outlet portto open the latter and permit discharge of liquid from said chamber,whereby there are no significant pressure forces operative between saidcontrol component and valve casing tending to either implement orinhibit displacements of said control component between the opened andclosed positions thereof.

2. The valve assembly of claim I in which said control component isprovided with a valve chamber in open communication with saidpressurizable chamber and defines a flow path extending generallybetween said inlet passage and output port, said valve element beinglocated within said valve chamber generally along such flow path.

3. The valve assembly of claim 2 in which said inlet passage is incontinuous open communication with both said pressurizable and valvechambers, the aforesaid flow path defined by said valve chamber beingoriented in substantial flow alignment with said inlet passage.

4. The valve assembly of claim 2 in which said pressurizable chamber isan axially extending cylinder and said element is a piston axiallyreciprocable therein between its open and closed positions, said valvechamber being located intermediate the ends of said piston, and saidpiston having inwardly facing cup-type seals opening toward said valvechamber and flow path therethrough, whereby the pressure force adjacentsuch flow path is operative against said seals to sealingly relate saidpiston to the circumjacent walls of said cylinder.

5. The valve assembly of claim 2 in which said pressurizable chamber isan axially extending cylinder and said control element is a pistonaxially reciprocable therein between its open and closed positions, andin which said valve element has a generally spherical configuration.

6. The valve assembly of claim 5 in which said inlet passage and outletport are angularly spaced about said cylinder, and in which means areprovided for constraining said piston against angular displacements withrespect to said cylinder so as to maintain said valve element in generalalignment with said outlet port.

7. The valve assembly of claim 6 and further comprising a compressionspring operative between said valve casing and piston and imparting abiasing force to the latter urging it toward the closed positionthereof.

8. The valve assembly of claim 2 in which a plurality of outlet portsare provided at angularly spaced locations about said pressurizablechamber in communication therewith to discharge liquid therefrom, inwhich a plurality of valve elements are located within said chamber andare carried by said control component in respective association withsaid outlet ports to selectively open and close the same as aforesaid,in which said control component is supported by said valve casing forangular displacement with respect thereto between its open and closedpositions, and in which said control component is provided with aplurality of angularly spaced valve chambers respectively having saidvalve elements positioned therein so as to be displaceable with saidcontrol component relative to said outlet ports.

9. The valve assembly of claim 8 and further comprising stop meanscooperative with said control component to limit displacements thereofin opposite angular directions in its fully open and fully closedpositions.

10. The valve assembly of claim 9 in which said valve casing is providedwith an annular supply chamber defining said inlet passage and being inopen communica tion with said pressurizable chamber, and in which eachof said valve elements has a generally spherical configuration.

1. A valve assembly for a water fountain or the like, comprising a valvecasing defining a pressurizable chamber having an inlet passagecommunicating therewith to supply liquid under pressure thereto and anoutlet port communicating therewith to discharge liquid therefrom, acontrol component supported by said casing within said chamber fordisplacements between open and closed positions generally traversingsaid outlet port, and a valve element carried by said control componentwithin said chamber for displacements relative to said outlet port andbeing respectively operative in the open and closed positions of saidcontrol component to permit and to prevent discharge of liquid from saidchamber, said valve element in the closed position of said controlcomponent being movable in the direction of liquid flow through saidoutlet port into sealing engagement therewith as a consequence of theoutward flow of liquid therethrough and thereafter being maintained insealing engagement with said outlet port by the pressure differentialthen defined across said valve element, displacement of said controlcomponent toward the open position thereof being operative to displacesaid valve element transversely relative to such flow direction andthereby effect relative movement of said valve element and outlet portto open the latter and permit discharge of liquid from said chamber,whereby there are no significant pressure forces operative between saidcontrol component and valve casing tending to either implement orinhibit displacements of said control component between the opened andclosed positions thereof.
 2. The valve assembly of claim 1 in which saidcontrol component is provided with a valve chamber in open communicationwith said pressurizable chamber and defines a flow path extendinggenerally between said inlet passage and output port, said valve elementbeing located within said valve chamber generally along such flow path.3. The valve assembly of claim 2 in which said inlet passage is incontinuous open communication with both said pressurizable and valvechambers, the afoResaid flow path defined by said valve chamber beingoriented in substantial flow alignment with said inlet passage.
 4. Thevalve assembly of claim 2 in which said pressurizable chamber is anaxially extending cylinder and said element is a piston axiallyreciprocable therein between its open and closed positions, said valvechamber being located intermediate the ends of said piston, and saidpiston having inwardly facing cup-type seals opening toward said valvechamber and flow path therethrough, whereby the pressure force adjacentsuch flow path is operative against said seals to sealingly relate saidpiston to the circumjacent walls of said cylinder.
 5. The valve assemblyof claim 2 in which said pressurizable chamber is an axially extendingcylinder and said control element is a piston axially reciprocabletherein between its open and closed positions, and in which said valveelement has a generally spherical configuration.
 6. The valve assemblyof claim 5 in which said inlet passage and outlet port are angularlyspaced about said cylinder, and in which means are provided forconstraining said piston against angular displacements with respect tosaid cylinder so as to maintain said valve element in general alignmentwith said outlet port.
 7. The valve assembly of claim 6 and furthercomprising a compression spring operative between said valve casing andpiston and imparting a biasing force to the latter urging it toward theclosed position thereof.
 8. The valve assembly of claim 2 in which aplurality of outlet ports are provided at angularly spaced locationsabout said pressurizable chamber in communication therewith to dischargeliquid therefrom, in which a plurality of valve elements are locatedwithin said chamber and are carried by said control component inrespective association with said outlet ports to selectively open andclose the same as aforesaid, in which said control component issupported by said valve casing for angular displacement with respectthereto between its open and closed positions, and in which said controlcomponent is provided with a plurality of angularly spaced valvechambers respectively having said valve elements positioned therein soas to be displaceable with said control component relative to saidoutlet ports.
 9. The valve assembly of claim 8 and further comprisingstop means cooperative with said control component to limitdisplacements thereof in opposite angular directions in its fully openand fully closed positions.
 10. The valve assembly of claim 9 in whichsaid valve casing is provided with an annular supply chamber definingsaid inlet passage and being in open communication with saidpressurizable chamber, and in which each of said valve elements has agenerally spherical configuration.